Minnesota Red Cross Volunteers Heading Toward Irma, Donations Needed

UNDATED - The Red Cross says as many as 20 relief workers from Minnesota have been deployed to the southeast United States in advance of Hurricane Irma's arrival. The organization says it's a massive effort to prepare for the most powerful Atlantic Ocean storm ever recorded.

Irma has already caused destruction on many Caribbean island nations, and could impact states through the mid-Atlantic region for several days.

Hundreds of trained Red Cross relief workers, truckloads of kitchen supplies, and tens of thousands of ready-to-eat meals are on their way. Also, trailers full of shelter supplies including cots and blankets, enough to support 120,000 people, are being shipped.

The Red Cross depends on financial donations to be able to provide disaster help. You can donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS, or texting the word IRMA to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

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